Ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Lebanon and Israel have been overshadowed by fresh violence in southern Lebanon, where a series of incidents resulted in casualties on both sides. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, an Israeli air strike on Wednesday targeted a cemetery prayer hall in the town of Tibnin, leaving one person dead and 12 others injured.
This strike followed a separate incident in the village of Majdal Zoun, where an improvised explosive device detonated inside a booby-trapped building. The Israeli military confirmed the deaths of two army reservists, identified as Harel Birenstock and Tamir Vaknin, while noting that another soldier was critically wounded and several others sustained injuries.
Reporting from Beirut, Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr highlighted the significance of the Majdal Zoun incident, noting that the village remains under Israeli military occupation. “The village lies close to al-Mansouri …There is no Hezbollah presence there, making this a notable incident,” Khodr stated. Following the explosion, the Israeli military announced it had initiated what it termed “precise strikes” across the region, citing a “blatant violation of the ceasefire by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation.”
The Israeli army’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Ella Waweya, subsequently issued new forced displacement orders for residents of al-Mansouri, instructing them to move north to avoid further military action. While hostilities have generally decreased in recent weeks, the situation remains highly volatile as intermittent air strikes continue to target front-line villages.
Since March 2, the conflict has resulted in at least 4,333 deaths and 12,250 injuries in Lebanon, according to official Health Ministry figures. Many residents who had returned to their homes remain fearful of a broader escalation, with local observers expressing doubt that the current ceasefire framework will hold.
Diplomatic efforts are currently focused on a US-sponsored framework established in June, which outlines the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the deployment of the Lebanese army to designated “pilot zones.” The second day of these negotiations concluded in Rome on Wednesday, with talks expected to continue through Thursday.
Despite the diplomatic push, Hezbollah has maintained its opposition to the process. On Tuesday, the group’s leader, Naim Qassem, dismissed the negotiations as a path to “nothing but shame, humiliation” and further concessions. Hezbollah continues to reject direct talks with Israel and has refused to surrender its weapons.
Khodr noted that the ongoing negotiations face significant hurdles, with limited progress reported. There is widespread concern that regional tensions could spill over, reigniting a conflict that many in the region feel has never truly concluded despite the recent reduction in active fighting.
Source: Aljazeera
